Sustainability in Railways – Green on Track

In the global fight against climate change, the focus is on reducing energy consumption, and many nations have set ambitious goals to minimise carbon emissions. Consequently, the railway industry has emerged as a beacon of sustainability as it can move large numbers of people or goods with less energy consumption, making it more energy efficient than other modes of transport.

Trains produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions per passenger or tonne of freight compared to other modes of transportation. This contributes to mitigating climate change and improving air quality. Also, by moving goods and people off the roads, the rail infrastructure helps to reduce traffic and lower fuel consumption and emissions. This in turn promotes multimodal transportation as rail systems connect with other transport modes such as buses, bicycles, and pathways.

The railway industry will continue to play a pivotal role in the future of sustainability through technology innovations such as electric trains, which offer numerous benefits, including lower emissions, reduced noise pollution, and enhanced energy efficiency. Also, when hydrogen is used as a fuel source, trains produce zero-emission exhausts as they emit only water vapour and heat as by-products.

The railway industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by digitalisation and sustainability in railways. It will play a crucial role in shaping the future of global transportation as high-speed rail networks and smart technologies expand. These trends not only enhance the industry's operational efficiency, they also contribute to a more sustainable and interconnected world. The future of sustainability in railways will continue to evolve as the efficient and reliable movement of people and goods increasingly becomes a top priority.

Sustainability in railways is being prioritised due to:

• Global environmental awareness - there is growing pressure on the railway industry to adopt sustainable practices that minimise environmental impact, from government, commerce and the general public.
• Regulations and standards - stricter regulations and emission reduction targets are being implemented around the world. The rail industry must focus on these sustainability requirements to meet legal requirements and avoid penalties.
• Cost savings – not only do energy-efficient technologies, waste reduction, and operations optimisation deliver environmental benefits, they also introduce long-term costs savings.
• Competitive advantage – by demonstrating a commitment to sustainability you may attract more customers, investors, and business partners.
• Supply chain compliance – businesses in the rail industry must align with the sustainability requirements of others in the supply chain if they want to carry on doing business.
• Social responsibility obligations - an organisation’s sustainability behaviour is now directly impacting its bottom line and the rail industry must consider environmental issues in its activities, and that of their direct suppliers’ operations.

Regulations and standards for sustainability in railways vary by country and region, but there are common areas, including:

• Emissions standards - limiting emissions from locomotives and rail operations.
• Energy efficiency - regulations and guidelines focused on improving the energy efficiency of rail operations, such as the use of energy-efficient technologies in locomotives and rolling stock.
• Noise regulations – to stop railways generating significant noise pollution, mitigation measures, such as sound barriers and quieter track, are required.
• Waste management - requirements for recycling, waste reduction, and proper disposal for solid waste, wastewater, and hazardous materials etc.
• Water management – relating to water quality and availability, such as stormwater management, pollution prevention, and water conservation measures.
• Biodiversity protection - environmental impact assessments and mitigation measures may be required to minimise impacts, alongside habitat restoration and conservation initiatives.
• Procurement - a focus on promoting sustainable procurement, such as using sustainable products, as well as evaluating suppliers and contractors’ sustainability performance.

Wider industry standards also apply to the railway industry. For example, he UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a set of 17 specific targets intended to contribute to a better, more sustainable future for all. Likewise, the GRI Standards enable an organisation to understand and report on their impacts on the economy, environment and people, thereby increasing transparency on their contribution to sustainable development. Meanwhile, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) provide information for investors to understand the sustainability impact of the companies in which they invest.

Until TÜV SÜD introduced Green on Track, there was no single sustainability assessment of railway systems that could objectively evaluate and compare the sustainability efforts of individual rail industry businesses.

Green on Track enables railway stakeholders to comprehensively assess their sustainability performance by defining requirements in the relevant rail transport sustainability areas. Our independent and comprehensive sustainability assessment goes beyond any other life cycle evaluation, delivering a completely holistic assessment of a product’s environmental impact. The result is an objective comparison of the sustainability performance of different rail manufacturers or operators, giving you the ability to identify targeted improvement measures.